Chapitre 56: Patrick’s story

A few minutes later, she heard a knock on the cabin door, and then a smiling sailor went into. He was short and stout, but his face was very kind. Angelica was even surprised to see such a charming man on the pirate ship.

"Sorry, the captain ordered to set the table!" he said. "Today he wants to dine with you."

And the sailor quickly put all unnecessary things off and brought some delicious food and drinks.

"Wait," Lica hailed the sailor. "Your captain! He is a quite strange man... as if he has some secrets!"

"Oh!" the young man laughed. "Our captain has many secrets! At least one is that he is a lord."

Suddenly the sailor realized that he blundered out too much. He quickly left the room. Frankly saying, Angelica was terribly hungry, but she did not dare to touch the food. The girl was patiently waiting Patrick.

Finally, the captain came, but she could hardly recognize him now. He was wearing clean clothes and smelled fresh. Beautiful black hair was curling down his shoulders. Even his scar didn't seem so awful to Lica now.

"What was the cause of these changes, Captain?" Angelica surprised honestly.

"I cannot afford myself to be untidy in company of such a beautiful young lady!" Patrick grinned.

He sat opposite the girl and looked at her. Only now did Lica see how deep Patrick's green eyes were. They were no longer cold, rather, very, very sad.

"You are hungry, aren't you?" said the captain. "Please, help yourself!"

He poured her some red wine and pulled a bowl of fruit.

"You are right, I am very hungry," Angelica agreed. "And it smells so good!"

"Today my cook did his best!" said Patrick. "You know there are some moments in life when only delicious food can bring real pleasure! By the way, you know my name but I still do not know yours!"

"Angelica!"

"Nice name!"

The Captain gave Lica grilled fish.

"You play the piano very well," Patrick noticed.

"Not very well!" the girl embarrassed. "So, so..."

"Do not be shy!" the captain smiled. "But you are very sad; your music speaks for you!"

"Why do I have to be happy?" asked Angelica. "May be because you are going to leave me on the desert island?"

The Captain broke, but caught himself.

"You have to understand," he said. "This is not a yacht for pleasure. A woman on the pirate ship is a problem primarily for herself!"

"But why won't you take me to the port?"

"Are you kidding me? There we will be caught and hanged by the authorities!"

Lica was silent. Her appetite was gone. She was staring at the table.

"Why do you stop eating?" Patrick asked.

"I don't want to, thank you."

"Do not be silly, eat! Maybe this is the last good dinner in your life."

"And what about the death wish?" she asked.

"Speak!" the captain nodded.

"Could you leave me, please, tomorrow morning. I would not like to spend the night on a desert island."

"Agreed!" Patrick grinned. "One night in your presence on the ship, I think I will be able to stand! Then I have a wish... Play something else!"

Angelica did not want to do it, but she was afraid to argue with the captain. The girl came to the instrument, sat behind it and began to play "Requiem" by Mozart. She sometimes fakes, her fingers fell the wrong way but she continued to play. When she finished, the last chords were still in the air, Patrick came and kissed her hand.

"Bravo!" he said sincerely. "I have never heard such wonderful music!"

"Why do you have the piano here?" asked the girl.

"My bride gave it to me as a present. But..."

Suddenly the captain stopped and paused.

"Captain," quietly said Angelica, "I have seen your medallion. On the photo, you look completely different, more honest and open. Tell me about your life, anyway tomorrow I will leave and we never meet again!"

"Then promise me that you'll eat something!" Patrick smiled.

He gave Lica his hand and led her to the table. The girl took a glass of wine and prepared to listen.

"To begin with, I was born in a very rich and noble family," the captain began. "My parents didn't grudge any money for me. I got the best education in our city. When I grew up, my mother and father would like to marry me to a girl from a noble family. Every month my mom organized balls, which attracted all the young damsels from wealthy families. At first I was amused, then pall, and then I got so fed up with them that using any opportunity I tried to avoid going to the balls. Once I escaped from my parents in the port. Not to be bored, I went to the tavern, where I heard beautiful music. On a small stage there was a piano, and a young beautiful girl was playing a sad melody. I was flabbergasted! The piano in the tavern and a commoner could play it - it was beyond my comprehension. Nevertheless, I stayed to listen the tune to the end. When she finished, she stood up and shouted the saloonkeeper: 'Thank you, Gregory! I will come again tomorrow at the same time!' Tavern keeper smiled and waved the young girl. Now I could see her better. Big black eyes seemed to be able to incinerate anyone. Red lips, thin chiseled nose... She could outshine the most exquisite beautiful ladies. She ran past me and her long, jet-black hair touched my hand. I realized that I was gone. My heart was beating quickly and I had never felt anything like that to anyone before. I went to the saloonkeeper, throwing him a gold coin I asked him: 'Who is this young lady?' 'Oh, young gentleman, you'd better to look at someone else!' whispered the saloonkeeper. 'She is Mary – the daughter of Old Jack! He doted on her. He gave her as the best education as no one else dreamed about. She can play several musical instruments, speaks five languages. Moreover, she can sail better than her father can and she is good at fighting!' I had heard from my father about Old Jack. There was no pirate more crafty, cunning and elusive than he was. He easily plundered ships and escaped the punishment easily. He had so much money that any king could envy his wealth. And that day I knew that he also had a beautiful daughter!

Since that day every night, I came to the tavern to see and listen to Mary. At first, she ignored me, but then she got used to me. One day having finished playing, she came and sat next to me. 'Do you like music?' she asked. 'Yes, especially when you are playing,' I said. 'Aren't you afraid of my father?' she smiled. 'Not at all!' 'Then come to us today for dinner!' Mary said, and laughed.

I did not say anything to my parents. In the evening, I went to the tavern. Mary had been already waiting for me. She was as lovely as never!

Taking my hand, she led me past the low little houses to a small shack. It was quite clean and comfortable. Dimly burning lamp. In the dim light, I saw a gloomy elderly man at the table. He had long gray hair and an earring in one ear. 'Sit down,' he nodded to me on the bench. I sat down, not knowing what to expect from the old pirate. 'Mary told me that you were in the tavern every day because of her. So, I'll be brief! If your intentions are serious - you are welcome! Otherwise – I'll kill you! Actually, I am against your friendship, but my daughter's word is law for me!' With these words, the old sea dog pulled his daughter and kissed her. 'I love your daughter!' I blurted out. 'And I ask for her hand!' 'I don't mind,' Mary's father muttered. 'But you are rich and the rich usually avoid doing business with us. So think it over all again and in a week come with your final decision!'

I left their house after midnight. Mary went to see me off. She gently held my hand, and I couldn't control myself and kissed her. She dragged me to the barn, where we made love until dawn. And in the morning I came home. I told my parents that I loved Mary and wanted to marry her. Having known that, my mom had a stroke. The doctor said that we shouldn't bother her, otherwise she would die. Father locked me in my room and didn't let me go out. However, a week later I managed to get out of the house and, unnoticed by anyone, I went to Mary. Coming closer I did not recognize her house. There were traces of struggle everywhere... The fence was broken, the door was demolished. There was no one inside. I rushed to the saloonkeeper. He told me that after I devoted my parents to my plans about marriage, my father appealed to the authorities, and they had taken a raid on a seaside village. Old Jack and his daughter managed to escape, but where they were hiding - the saloonkeeper did not know. Completely squeezed out, I went out of the tavern and suddenly heard a familiar voice: 'Darling, I knew you would come!' It was Mary. I was over the moon with joy! I rushed to hug and kiss her. 'I have no time, my dear!' the girl interrupted me. 'The King has issued an order to clear the village from pirates. All caught will be hanged! They have already executed some of us; my father is worried very much. He does not know that I'm here - with you!' 'You do not have to hide!' I tried to convince her. 'You did not commit anything! You did not rob or drown ships!' 'Yes, but my father has so much gold that any person, especially the king would like to own it! If they catch me, they will put the bite on him to know his secret. So it's better to hide. At parting, I would like to give you my piano. You can take it whenever you want. I have already warned Gregory. And remember, I will always love you!'

Mary gave me a kiss and I lost my head in despair, offered to accompany her to the ship. We were walking holding hands, and the moon had risen high in the sky. Old Jack saw us from the deck and shouted: 'Mary, immediately, on the board! We have had enough problems with this boy!'

But I couldn't unhand her. Finally, she kissed me again and went up the stairs. Old Jack immediately gave the command, and the ship went to the sea. The next day I heard the terrible news... The Royal Ships captured the ship of Old Jack. Realizing that inevitable would happen with him and Mary, he killed his daughter. They tortured Old Jack for a long time but he didn't tell his secret - where he had hidden his priceless wealth. The Pirate was brought to the village and hanged at the square in the public; his ship was left in the harbor for some time.

When I heard this, my whole world collapsed overnight. I swore that I would become a pirate and never return in the world in which I lived before. With help of faithful people, I arranged escape of several pirates from the team of Old Jack, who had been waiting punishment in prison. At night we secretly slipped on the pirate ship and stole it from the harbor. So I became a captain. In memory of Mary, I took her piano out of the tavern, and now it is always with me. I even learned to play that melody, which my Mary was playing when we first met."

With these words, the captain Patrick rose and walked to the piano and played a very sad but nice melody. Angelica imagined a young girl, who died very young and burst into tears...

Patrick finished playing, stood up, closed the lid and left the room. Lica quietly followed him and saw that he was standing near the ship's board looking into the distance.